Christopher, an assistant professor of physical therapy education, has conducted extensive research looking at how running impact those who are pregnant.
A recent article in Runner’s World that posed the question “Is it safe to run when pregnant?” includes insights from Assistant Professor Shefali Christopher into how running can impact the pregnant body.
The article by reporter Lily Canter addressed questions many have when they see someone who is pregnant exercising and offers up evidence that exercise is not only safe, but it can help prevent women from experiencing things like gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and excessive weight gain.
Among the experts Canter turned to for the article is Christopher, who as a faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy Education has conducted extensive research looking at how running can impact the pregnant body. Earlier this year Shefali with fellow researchers at other institutions published a study in the Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy that helps provide a fuller understanding of how pregnancy and childbirth impact women runners.
Christopher told Runner’s World that it is important for those who are pregnant to supplement or complement their running with strength training using a phased approach. “‘It’s important to have that resistance training, to build up, and be strong again for the running,” Christopher said.
Find more information in the Runner’s World article.